I’d been struggling for weeks. I would start the day strong, but without fail, the cloud would envelope me by day’s end. I felt frustrated, unsettled and generally overwhelmed with life. As someone who chose “thrive” as her word for 2015, I couldn’t get past the thought that I was living a life so far from that goal. The failure felt debilitating.
Sunday rolled around and we enjoyed a relatively painless Mass with the kids. Mark, who can sometimes read me better than I read myself, suggested a two-fold surprise: I would drop him and the four oldest at the movies (which is usually a twice a year event in our house because…$$$) and I could take TJ for two hours of leisurely browsing at Target.
Mark saw what I desperately needed and pushed me in that direction. And let me tell you: those two hours alone were a game changer for me. As I strolled aisle to aisle, picking up unexciting items like paper towels and crayons, I found myself calming down. With my baby asleep in the stroller, my mind turned over and over the question: “What would a calm, thriving life look like?”
Feeling inspired, I bought myself an inexpensive pink spiral notebook from the school supply section. TJ and I went drove over to the movie theater and while he enjoyed a snack of puffs, I started writing. It was like the floodgates had opened. The answers came even faster than I could write. By the time Mark and the kids returned to the van, I felt more like myself and ready to tackle my life in order to get closer to that goal. Who knew two hours in Target would give me so much clarity?
I’ve added my bullet list below.
What does a calm, thriving life look like?
- A strong marriage – Mark and I on the same page
- Kids who generally get along and really play and use their energy
- Significantly less screen time for everyone
- Less clutter and more respect for what we already have
- Spending money wisely and living within (or below) our means
- Work that is meaningful and fires us up vs. drags us down
- Prioritizing family and time together
- Being outdoors, exercising, being active
- Prioritizing learning, discovering, curiosity
- Time for me to recharge with alone time
- Using our individual gifts (What is my gift?)
- Prioritizing experiences, not “stuff”
- Creating a welcoming home to open to others
- Having a firm commitment to growing in holiness
I still don’t have all of the answers, but this is a step in the right direction. What would a calm, thriving life look like to you?
